damning summary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "damning summary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a summary that is highly critical or condemning of someone or something. Example: "The report provided a damning summary of the company's financial mismanagement, highlighting numerous failures and lack of accountability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In a damning summary of the pre-trial charges against Mr Kenyatta, Fatou Bensouda laid out the case against him, which she was forced to drop last month because of a lack of evidence.

Independent

Though the tome sheds no new light on the reasons for the downfall of the state-owned bank, which had to be bailed out earlier this year after losing FFr6.9 billion $1.2 billionn) in 1993, it is a damning summary of a system in which "connivance" between Crédit Lyonnais's management and its state owner brought the bank to its knees.

The Economist

The Saudi-led coalitargetingeting Houthi rebels in Yemen has failed to investigate hundreds of reported civilian casualties in the country, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday in a damning summary of attacks perpetrated during Riyadh's US-backed campaign.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In summary, read the damn book, fight the good fight, and let's make America ours again.

Huffington Post

The grade-inflating summaries she offers at the beginning and the end of the book are overpowered by the damning portrait that emerges in between.

The New Yorker

All the time, Catton wants us to be aware that this is fiction we are involved with (an authorial presence is generally referred to; there are numerous hypertextual moments that underline that fact, with the word damned appearing as d___ed; introductory summaries are given at the start of every chapter).

The Guardian - Books

Summary 26.

The Guardian

End summary.

The Guardian

End Summary.

The Guardian

Its findings were damning.

The Economist

Its tone is damning.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "damning summary", ensure the summarized content genuinely warrants strong condemnation. Avoid using it for minor criticisms.

Common error

Avoid using "damning summary" when a more moderate term like "critical summary" or "negative summary" would suffice. Save "damning" for truly severe situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "damning summary" functions as a noun phrase, where "damning" is an adjective modifying the noun "summary". It emphasizes the severely critical nature of the summary, indicating strong disapproval or condemnation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "damning summary" is a powerful phrase used to describe a summary that is severely critical and condemns its subject. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its proper grammatical structure and usability, although its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase is primarily found in news and media contexts. When employing "damning summary", ensure the context warrants such strong condemnation, and consider alternatives like "incriminating summary" or "devastating overview" for nuanced expression. Avoid overuse in trivial contexts to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incriminating summary

Replaces "damning" with a synonym that emphasizes guilt or culpability.

devastating overview

Substitutes "summary" with "overview" and "damning" with "devastating", indicating a severely damaging impact.

critical assessment

Replaces both words to focus on the judgmental and evaluative nature of the summary.

harsh summation

Uses "harsh" in place of "damning" and "summation" instead of summary, both implying severity.

unfavorable recap

Emphasizes the negative aspect with "unfavorable" while using "recap" as a more informal substitute for summary.

negative synthesis

Replaces "summary" with a more technical term, "synthesis", and "damning" with "negative", retaining the critical essence.

condemnatory digest

Uses "condemnatory" to directly convey the act of condemnation and "digest" as a synonym for summary.

critical compendium

Shifts to a more comprehensive tone, replacing "summary" with "compendium" while keeping the critical aspect.

severe abstract

Replaces "summary" with "abstract", keeping the "severe" aspect of the statement.

incriminating brief

Substitutes both words to create a different expression that has the same meaning and feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "damning summary" in a sentence?

You can use "damning summary" to describe a report or overview that strongly criticizes or condemns something. For example, "The investigation provided a "damning summary" of the company's financial practices."

What's a good alternative to "damning summary"?

Alternatives to "damning summary" include "incriminating summary", "devastating overview", or "critical assessment". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "damning summary" too strong of a phrase?

The phrase "damning summary" is strong and should be used when the summary is severely critical and leads to a negative judgment. If the criticism is milder, consider using a less intense phrase such as "critical summary".

What makes a summary "damning"?

A summary is considered "damning" when it presents evidence or information that strongly suggests guilt, fault, or severe inadequacy, leading to a very negative conclusion about the subject being summarized.